This Week at Hilton Pond

Bill Hilton Jr.
Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
York, South Carolina 29745 USA

Fledgling Birds: Looking Their Age (1-7 June 2009)

Lots of things about fledgling birds make them look their age, even when they don't particularly resemble their parents. For a photo essay about what characteristics make young birds look young, please visit the 1-7 June 2009 edition of "This Week at Hilton Pond" at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek090601.html

After viewing the installment--which includes a quickie quiz on a Myste= ry Fledgling--don't forget to scroll down for a list of all birds banded or recaptured during the period. We also provide a few miscellaneous nature notes, including one about our first banded Ruby-throated Hummingbirds of the season.

Figure 1. This recently fledged Eastern tufted titmouse (Parus bicolor) reveals a bright yellow gape that serves as a “target zone” for parent birds with food to share. Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.

Looking Over Over-looked Clover (8-14 June 2009)

When folks are out looking over nature, they often overlook clover--ubiquitous plants that, despite being foreign and possibly invasive in North America, play important roles from enriching soil to nurturing cattle to serving as host plants for butterflies and moths. "This Week at Hilton Pond" we look closely at three-leafed clover in our photo essay for 8-14 June 1009, viewable at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek090608.html

After pondering clover's eye-pleasing appearance and ecological significance, don't forget to scroll down for a tally of all birds banded or recaptured during the period. And our miscellaneous nature notes include photos of the season's first trumpet creeper flowers and a female house finch that looked like a male--as well as a description of THREE banding milestones reached this week.

Figure 2. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) was imported to North America at least 200 years ago. As a legume, it fixes nitrogen that enriches nutrient-depleted soil. Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.

Summer Solstice Snapshot (15-21 June 2009)

What better way might there be than spending the longest day of the year exploring woods and meadows of the Carolina Piedmont, taking snapshots of flora and fauna? That's what we did for the recent summer solstice, and we're pleased to share our images in the current installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond." To view our photo essay for 15-21 June 2009--complete with info about midsummer wildflowers, insects, birds, and the like--please visit http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek090615.html .

After reading the essay, be sure to scroll down for a list of all birds banded or recaptured during the period, along with some miscellaneous nature notes.

Figure 3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) is a robust vine that blooms profusely by midsummer across the eastern U.S. For ruby-throa= ted hummingbirds it may be the most important of all native nectar plants. Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.

To help support the education, research, and conservation work of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, please see http://www.hiltonpond.org/FundingMain.html . Editor.
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The Citizen Scientist (03 July 2009).